Witness the future of Batman, with Dick Grayson inheriting the role and taking on a new Robin, the son of Batman, Damian Wayne.

Credits & Solicit Info:

Written by: Todd Casey & Jack BlackDirected by: Michael Chang

Cast

Diedrich Bader as Batman/Bruce Wayne/Future BatmanNika Futterman as Catwoman/Selina Kyle WayneLex Lang as Dick Grayson/Batman IIPatrick Cavanaugh as Damian WayneJeff Bennett as the Joker/Joker Jr.Nicholas Guest as the QuestionJames Garnett as the Narrator/? (Like I spoil the twist on who the Narrator was here)Sebastian Bader as Damian's Son/Future RobinKevin Michael Richardson as Kalibak

Review:

Through a mysterious narrator, we're given the future of Batman from this show. He retires from fighting crime and marries Catwoman. They have a child in Damian Wayne. But Batman can never be fully gone, now Dick Grayson has taken up the cape and cowl. And as there is always a Batman, a new Joker rises to challenge the Dark Knight.Dear God homages EVERYWHERE. This is an episode for every Batman fan: past and present. From the old comic past of Earth 2 Huntress origin of Damian and the various ways the Joker has "died", to the numerous tip of the hats to Batman: The Animated Series, and finally them even referencing the present day era of Batman under Grant Morrison. It's all here to take apart and enjoy. Though really the story is of course the legacy of Batman and Robin in the symbols that crime will always have an enemy in the bat and bird.I have to admit, when I heard the very thought that Damian would appear I cringed. I mean after all the comic version is nowhere like the one seen in this episode. Again, this Damian shares more of the original Huntress than his actual comic counterpart. About the only elements they share are their the son of Batman, they become Robin, they become Batman in the future, and well just look at the picture below for the last.And that's pretty much all they share. Given this Damian is shared by marriage and not wacky rapey hijinks (don't ask the origins are out there which is on par with Grant Morrison's Batman), this Damian is much more easier to stomach. Gone are the bratty and Mary Sue-esque negatives replaced by actual emotions and flaws. But then again, what more do you expect from the minds of this show? To take a concept much shaky of Damian and make him work.But enough of that subject, there's the matter of Dick Grayson as well. On one hand, it's nice seeing Dick as Batman. It's a destiny he can never evade and that of all the people in Bruce Wayne's life, he above anyone else can succeed him truly. I have to admit that it is weird seeing current day comics being brought to the forefront. Even if the tale is well I won't spoil the ending to the episode. But still, this show once again breaks ground by introducing modern day comic book concepts. Something, that the show it also homaged did when it was on as wellAnother aspect I enjoyed fully was the whole Joker/Batman rivalry. It is weird that again an episode brings the subject up and even more so closely when but a month ago with Emperor Joker we where on that topic. Still, the topic isn't as focused as it was there. What we get here is more the cliff-notes version and really all we need to know. Though much with this episode we get twists and turns as well.Honestly, that's what I love most about this episode. It breaks ground rarely covered in comic book adaptations (mostly in DC form). Not to mention fully homages the past that came before this show. I have to admit this felt like the perfect book end to this series. If it had ended with this episode it be on a grand epic note. But of course this isn't the end. We have still a truck load of episodes left before this show takes it's final curtain.Enter the introduction to the episode where we get the next running subplot it seems and it's more of a whopper than the previous two. In the past we've had numerous appearances of New Gods in the form of the beings who Mongul employed. With this episode, it appears the show will be heading fully into the Jack Kirby world of the New Gods as Darkseid stands to make his appearance on the show. I'm a bit surprised at this myself. I would have never imagined him being on the program, and if Darkseid did show it be for the announced Trinity episode that's down the line. Well it isn't, instead we're getting the next best thing, Justice League International in the next episode.Still, the start of this ongoing plot was darn exciting with the Question taking on the forces of Apoklips. I have to admit this was a very strong opening that leaves a question on where this plot will go next. So to excuse the question puns, I'm curious to see what sort of plan Darkseid has to enslave our world?Regardless, this episode was a sure blast. I know I've missed several episodes before it, but once I heard what was going on. I had to watch this episode because I had a feeling what it would represent. I have to say I wasn't disappointed at all with it. Once more the series just utterly captures the concept of Batman and is this generation's stamp on the character. Now if only an animated Batman series could give me Cassandra Cain as Batgirl for one episode or animated movie dang nabbit.

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About the Author - Zechs

Zechs is the lord and master of The Toy Shed, Character Spotlight, and Cartoon Reviews. He's also an aspiring comic book writer trying to get some of his works published on the Outhouse. If there's any greater quality to Zechs, it's that he's an avid fan of comic book characters and would defend them to the bitter end against the companies that use them wrongly. Zechs walks the lonely path in Chicagoland area.